Game title: Gods of War: Chains of Olympus
Platform: PSP
Studio: Ready At Dawn/Sony Computer Entertainment
Rating: M for mature
Score: 9/10
The review
For several years, Kratos has ruled as the god of action gaming for the PlayStation2. Now, he can add the PSP to his dominion with "God of War: Chains of Olympus."
Kratos might have been reduced in size to fit a handheld game screen, but don't let his size fool you — this game packs just as much action and style as the big-screen versions.
The game takes place before the first "God of War" game, and before Kratos' outright rebellion of the gods. Like the other games, Kratos' journey is narrated like the telling of an ancient myth. The game keeps you wanting to guess what happens next, even though you already know what he is to become.
Your main weapons are the Blades of Chaos, which were fused to Kratos' arms by the gods as punishment for his brutality as a warrior. Later in the game you'll be given the Gauntlet of Zeus to use as an alternate weapon, which is a giant glove that smashes through enemies.
The familiar upgrades are available. Red orbs are collected, which you can use to pump up the power of your weapons and magic attacks. In addition, Gorgon eyes and phoenix feathers are hidden in treasure chests, which increase your health and magic.
In combat, Kratos' moves are quick and responsive. The game designers also did a good job laying out the controls. One small issue is the delegation of the dodge/roll move to holding down both shoulder buttons and using the stick to select the direction. It's not something you can do quickly, but it's not hard to get used to.
Graphics: The game pushes the graphics ability of the PSP to provide rich and enchanting levels. From burning ancient stone cities to awesome temples with towering stone faces, the graphics are detailed and incredible for a hand-held game. Lights and shadows also add a great deal of depth to environments and enemies are varied and just as impressive.
Audio: In most games, the audio is the weakest aspect. It seems like audio is like an after-thought with artificial-sounding orchestral music and voice acting on par with the worst B-movie. Thankfully, this game does an equally good job in its audio production as it does in everything else. The same cast of well-known professional actors who did the first two PS2 games are back in this one. The music is well-composed and performed, and really adds to the mystique of Kratos' adventures.
The wrap-up
Parent's take: This game is definitely not for kids. If it were a movie, it would easily earn an R rating for violence and sexual scenes. While I have to say it is one of the best produced games for the PSP this year, it is also only suitable for those 17 and older.
Final word: "Chains of Olympus" makes a great addition to the "God of War" series.
E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com